Elliotte Friendman has come out and stated that the NHL’s 24-25 salary cap will be $87.675 million which is an increase of $4.175 million. This increase will be one of the largest increases in the salary cap era and this comes after the pandemic era where it put a big wrench into teams salary organization.
To get a better grasp this is how the NHL Cap has increased over the past 7 seasons.
2023-24: $87.675 million
2022-23: $83.5 million
2021-22: $81.5 million
2020-21: $81.5 million
2019-20: $81.5 million
2018-19: $79.5 million
2017-18: $75 million
So since 2017 to now the cap has increased by 12.675 million in total. Which is great to see because compared to other pro sports the NHL guys easily get paid the least on average.
To put it in perspective the NBA salary cap over the last four seasons are:
2023: $136 million
2022: $123 million
2021: $112 million
2020: 109 million
This is crazy lopsided given how much harder the NHL is to play in compared to the NBA, but still great to see the NHL is figuring it out slowly.
As for the Capitals they will greatly benefit from this bump, especially with unrestricted free agents that most likely wont be resigned like Nicolas Aube-Kubel $1.225 million, Joel Edmundson $1.75 million, Anthony Mantha $5.7 million (big yikes!), Max Pacioretty $2 million that’s if he reaches his performance bonuses that include him playing in 30 plus games, and possibly another $9.2 million from Nicklas Backstrom who if his career is done due to his hip injury if he doesn’t return for his final year of his deal and stays on the long term injured list.
With what is listed above and the salary cap increase GM Brian MacLeelan will have around $24.05 million to utilize in bringing in some free agent talent to add to the team. With that said there are only 3 really significant RFAs that we would have to sign or let go, Connor McMichael, Rasmus Sandin, and Aliaksei Protas.
Now out of those names I think the Capitals definitely will resign Sandin and Protas because they have proven to be useful on this current team. As for McMichael who I like he really needs to prove his worth given enough time on the big club or else I don’t think we see him in D.C. after this season.
Given that the Caps have said they don’t plan on rebuilding while Ovi is still playing they could utilize this period to slowly gain young talent when it is time to take over when Ovi is gone or at least be a bridge to survive till then.
Here is a list of some notable names that are free agents this upcoming offseason. I will highlight the ones I think the Capitals should at least talk to.
Free Agents 2024:
- William Nylander
- Elias Lindholm
- Sam Reinhart
- Jake Guentzel
- Brandon Montour
- Steven Stamkos
- Noah Hanifin
- Jonathan Marchessault
- Brett Pesce
- Chandler Stephenson
- Tyler Toffoli
Both Hanifin and Pesce are on the younger side of this list and play defense which the Capitals are in desperate need. I know we have struggled in the goal scoring category this season but we need to start from back up in my opinion.
Also not to mention I could see the Capitals dealing Kuznetsov, Kuemper, and maybe even Carlson or Jensen before the deadline to build up some picks and relieve some more cap space. I guess time will tell but all hope isn’t lost in the large scheme of things.
The Morning Skate 